Respected former AU president dies at age 95

Megan EdwardsPublished: July 11, 2006 12:00AM

By MEGAN EDWARDS
T-G Staff Writer
A man many say transformed the former Ashland College and saved the institution from possible despair during his tenure died Monday morning.
Dr. Glenn L. Clayton, 95, died following a brief illness.
Clayton, a native of New Lebanon, served as the 23rd president of Ashland College from 1948 to 1977 and then returned in 1981 to serve the institution in a number of capacities. Up until shortly before his death, Clayton worked in the Office of Development as director of Endowment Scholarship Programs, which provides funds for endowed scholarships, and as coordinator of the universitys roundtable program.
Dr. Clayton was the epitome of a university president, said AU President Frederick J. Finks in a statement. He was a man of honor and person of integrity and was held in the highest esteem.
Finks said Clayton and his wife, Janet, took him under their wings and helped shape me into the person I am today.
Many who have come across Clayton throughout their careers share similar sentiments. Dr. John Nethers, a retired history professor at Ashland University, crossed paths multiple times with Clayton during his education and career.
When I was a freshman at Ohio State University, I had him as a professor, Nethers said. He didnt know me. I was just in a survey class. I thought highly of him as a professor.
Born Oct. 31, 1910, Clayton received a bachelor of science in education degree from Miami University and a master of arts degree and his doctorate from The Ohio State University. He received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Central Michigan University and an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Northwood Institute.
Clayton left Ohio State University and became president of Ashland College in 1948 at age 37. He was the youngest man to fill that office. Nethers, a Newark native, gained his degree in history, his masters degree, then his doctorate and taught at Murray State University for two years. He then came to Ashland College when offered a position.
When I went into (Claytons) office in 1966, I recognized him, Nethers said. He didnt know me. I never mentioned this as long as I was there teaching because I didnt want people to think I received certain treatment.
Nethers and others attribute the transformation and rebuilding of then Ashland College to Clayton. When he became president of Ashland College, the institution had four buildings: a small library, a dormitory, a gymnasium and a classroom building. The F.E. Myers mansion at Center Street and College Avenue housed the music department. With 300 students in 1948, the colleges assets were about $4 million.
Four years after Claytons arrival, a fire destroyed the schools administration and main classroom building at Founders Hall. Many believed the fire would end Ashland College, but Clayton rallied support to rebuild the building.
If I had to write a history of the college, I would write that Dr. Clayton, more than anyone, when the college was having financial problems, he deserves the most credit for saving the institution, Nethers said.
Upon Claytons retirement in 1977, the college had grown to an institution of 2,00 students with total assets of $30 million and 36 buildings. Many of the institutions prominent buildings, including the library, Kettering Science Center, Arts and Humanities building and Myers Convocation Center were built during his tenure.
William Etling, vice president for Development and Public Relations, was hired by Clayton in 1966 as director of alumni relations. In 1981, Etling hired Clayton back onto the university staff part time. Clayton at the time had a condominium in Florida and worked for the institution part time until one day, he called Etling and asked if he could work full time.
He was still on our staff officially at the time of his death, Etling said. He was active in coming in here on a daily basis until his most recent health issues.
Part of Claytons responsibilities in his most recent job at the college included coordinating alumni roundtable programs.
Alumni came out to noon and evening meetings and he would bring people from the university and encourage people to support their alma mater, Etling said. His name meant an awful lot to many, many alumni. People loved to talk with him and see him. He always had that presidential demeanor and people respected him. Were going to miss him.
Clayton loved the community, according to Nethers, and served in many community organizations.
The Rotary Club of Ashland honored him with its Community Service Award and he is a past president of Rotary. He served as chairman of the Civil Service Commission, trustee emeritus of the AU Board of Trustees, and was a member of Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce and Brethren Care Village Board of Directors.
He also was active in many business and educational organizations, including the Ohio and U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Board of Regents. He was a founding member of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges and past president of the Ohio College Association.
The North Central Ohio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals named Clayton the 2004 recipient of the Outstanding Fundraiser Award. Under his leadership, the number of named endowed scholarships funded has grown from just a handful to nearly 500.
He was given the Distinguished Service Award by Ashland University in 1998 for dedicated volunteer service. He was the first recipient of the Glenn L. Clayton Award in 2002, named in his honor for an employee of Ashland University who exemplifies the universitys mission both on and off campus. He was awarded lifetime membership by the Great Lakes District V Council for Advancement and Support of Education. In 1996, he received the Someone Special Award by Ashland City Council for his community service. Clayton Hall, the second largest residence hall on the Ashland campus, was built in 1964 and named in his honor.
A past moderator of the General Conference of the Brethren Church, Clayton was an active member of Park Street Brethren Church for many years and served as deacon, moderator and Sunday school teacher.
He was an avid rose gardener and collector of first-edition and unusual books.
The Claytons had two sons, John, who preceded him in death, and Glenn L. Clayton II; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Professor Dr. Don Rinehart and his wife, Dr. Jan Rinehart, were students during Claytons tenure.
Many will see Dr. Claytons legacy as the buildings built during the 1950s and 1960s which enabled many more students to attend Ashland College, Don Rinehart said. We admire him most for the endowed scholarship money he raised to help make the cost of college affordable for many students who chose to attend Ashland University from the 1980s to the present day.
He was a very humble person, very genuine, a scholar and first-class all the way Nethers said. He was just a gentlemans gentleman and loved Ashland University. He was compassionate toward the students and he understood young kids. He was a hard worker. He loved the community, too.
n Megan Edwards can be reached at 419-281-0581, ext. 239, or medwards@times-gazette.com.